Everything was blurred by the pain.

There was nothing to be heard. Nothing to feel but numbness that grew into a fire that burned below your skin, just deep enough to be out of reach.

Every single breath burned and the taste of blood and saliva mingled on your tongue. It drove you to the edge of madness, one push away from falling.

All you could feel through this madness was a pair of hands, a trembling voice caressing the back of your head.

"Hey...", someone grabbed you by the shoulders only to pull away as you screamed in agony.

Bones inside your body shifted. They weren't in the place they were supposed to be and if they were they had been parted in two.

Small splinters dug into your flesh and drew blood.

The darkness tore apart and all of a sudden there was a blurry head of red to be seen. Scarlet like the flame of a campfire but as vibrant as an inferno. And within this mess were a pair of blue eyes.

Concern was written all over Vi's face as she pulled you to your feet. Breathing heavily you tried to push the pain back just long enough to be able to stand on your own.

But your legs gave in and she had to put an arm around you. While leaning on her with all your weight Vi lead you towards the concrete wall.

She was drenched in sweat and blood, visibly shaken from the fight. It was hard to tell if the blood was her own but the fact that she was upset was as clear as day.

At the same time there was something else to be seen within the blue of her eyes.

Dedication.

She had a goal and it was so close. Just a few more steps, maybe she would have to reach out her hand and grab the opportunity but it was so goddamn close.

Your gaze wandered lazily through the arena, wetted sand nestled against the soles of your naked feet. Even though your sight was still clouded by pain and tears you could see the concrete walls, cracks inside them.

Your breath hitched with excitement. Every inch of your skin started to tingle as if you had bathed in acid. But you couldn't help and frown.

"How did you..?", your tongue was paralysed by the feeling that held half of your body hostage.

Every word was slow, stretched and your tongue felt as heavy as stone.

"Does that matter?", Vi gifted you one of her charming grins and for the first time since you've known her there was a kind of fire visible inside her eyes.

She was a child of the lanes and would be able to finally go back, see them again. She was about to go home.

Your heart stopped for a beat at the thought.

How long had it been since you had seen Zaun for the last time?

You couldn't even remember the stench of the polluted air, the feeling of dirt under every step that you took. It was a gruesome place, you knew that, but awful places only got worse over time.

You imagined how the people had gone worse with the place as well. Gangsters and lawless criminals were no surprise but systematic drug lords were an entirely new high of evil for the Undercity.

The unknown was thrilling. At the same time you found yourself looking back over your broken shoulder as Vi dug her fingers into the cracks of the concrete wall and pulled herself up to the audience ranks.

You clung to her back like a helpless child, your feet lifting off the ground that was so familiar to you. A tingle chased up and down your spine and for the hint of a moment the pain was gone.

Excitement and doubt fought inside the pit of your stomach. Vi helped you climb the deserted benches. Under some there was still trash to be found.

The ground was cold, sticky. But it was new. Never before had you set foot in this place. Your eyes moved on and stopped as a metal door caught your attention.

The entrance to the jaw.

"There.", you tried to point at the door but your arm failed you. "Dammit..."

Vi let out a soft sound.

"Don't worry, sweet cheeks.", her fingers curled around your waist. "I know someone who will patch you up just right."

You chuckled.

"Do the lanes still have a sense of loyalty?", you asked as a shiver suddenly chased down your spine.

Vi's hand was already on the handle of the door as she seemed to notice too. Her eyes jumped over her shoulder and soft sound escaped her lips.

The expression on your face darkened.

"Sheriff.", even though pain clouded your brain there was a sharpness audible in every word of yours. "I expected you to cower away."

His teeth clenched, sheriff Marcus pointed a pistol at the two of you. For a brief moment he was unsure before setting on Vi.

"Not a step.", he pressed out between clenched teeth.

Vi stiffened at the sight of the bullet inside the barrel. You remained unimpressed.

"I just want to leave.", Vi said. "You threw me in here for no reason."

"I tried to spare your life!", his finger trembled on the trigger. "He would have killed you."

Vi's lips parted, ready to spit poison as you sucked in a sharp breath and met the sheriff's gaze.

"You won't do it, Marcus.", you simply said, bored and tired of everything. "You're a coward. Greyson's boots had always been too big for you."

"It's either you or me!", he spat back but it sounded more like he tried to convince himself. "He'll kill me!"

You shrugged. With the remaining strength you pushed back the pain and managed to stand on your own two feet to slip out of Vi's embrace.

Without batting an eye you approached the sheriff. He trembled like a kid that had never killed someone before. And yet there was something shimmering in his eyes.

The urge to be confident in himself.

"Go on.", you locked eyes with him. "Try. But if you don't, which I know you won't, because you can't, let me give you some advice before we walk through that door."

"Shut up."

"Don't worry. You won't hear me for long anymore.", your intact arm moved up so you could wrap your hand around the neck of his pistol, one finger by one. "Take everything you love and run, Marcus. Take them and pray that he won't find you. Maybe you'll have some good years. And if he finds you, or someone who works for him, do yourself a favour and grow a spine."

And with these words you turned around, reached out your hand to Vi and headed for the door. The beating of your heart hammered against your rib cage.

He didn't shoot. Of course not. He was a coward.

Vi's hand reached for the handle of the door, pushing it down. It was open.

So the two of you stepped through it back into freedom. Back to Zaun and the dirty streets you had crawled from.